Chair



(No Model.)

G. B. ST. JOHN.'

CHAIR.

Vlmfmted Peb.' 19, 1884.

In 06d i011 N. PETEna maximum. vla-ningun. D.c.

4o shown.

' 5o the center.

UNITED STATES VPATENT OFFICE.

GARLAND R.v sr. JOHN, onv cRDAR RAPIDS, iovvA.

CHAIR.

'SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 293,813, dated February 19, 1,884.

' Application mea June 25, less. (No model.) v

1o use by so constructing and arranging the seat vand back that they shall automatically conform to the body in al1 positions, whether in sitting or reclining.

It consists, first, in a pivoted seat and piv.

oted back suitably attached to a frame t0 admit of the various changes in position in sitting or reclining, second, in the use of a flexible web connecting the seat and back, in combination with a longitudinally elongating zo spring adapted to stretch them apart as the back is reclined, and thus tend to raise lthe rear and depress the front side of the seat to correspond with the natural outline of the body in a reclining posture 5 third, in a flexible leg-support adapted to roll up when not in use, all of which will be hereinafter more particularly described.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l represents a 3o side elevation of the inventionV as applied to a Y reclining-chair for railway-cars; Fig. 2, a sectional elevation of the seat in the rear, show- "ing the manner of attaching the leg-support, and the detail of the same and of other parts;

Fig. 3, a rear elevation of Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The seat A and back B are pivoted near the middle of each toa suitable chair-frame, as The attachment is so simple that a glance at the drawings will be a sufficient eX- planation. In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the frame of the chair is a spring having a rearward curvature, and its tendency is'to elongate asit is 4 5 straightened out by reclining back in the manner indicated by dotted lines .in Fig. 1. This increases the distance between the pivotal points of the seat and back, as will be seen by the arc of a circle, w, of which the pivot a is The tendency is thus to stretch the seat and back apart; but these being connected by a'strongexible web, C, the only result is to draw the lower edge of the back somewhat forward and raise the rear edge of the seat in a gradual approach 'to a parallel as the back is depressed. This brings the whole chairl into a generallyinclined position, necessary to the comfort of the person reclining. To secure the seat in the various positions, the pivotal arm F is provided on the under side with notches, (shown in dotted lines,) into which the upper end of a standard, E, engages. The changes are made by raising the arm and lean-V ing back in the seat until the desired position is found, when the arm is dropped, and holds .the seat in position by Vits own gravitation. The base of the chair is pivoted' to admit of its being reversed. The lower part of the spring D is designed to be stiff enough to support the seat and at the same time relieve the jar of the car, while the upper portion, G, is only stiff enough to little more than support the back in its normal upright position, yielding readily to the weight of the body in leaning back. The connecting medium C may be a web of canvas, leather, or like material, 'or a hinged or otherwise flexible metallic device.

The seat and the back, or either of them, may be provided with a spring or springs, to keep them in a normal position, if desired.

The leg-support I consists in a web of cloth or other suitable flexible material attached to a roller, c, provided with a spring, e, which automatically rolls up the web when not in use in asimple and well-known manner. For convenience and security the parts are incased in a hollow cylinder, H, provided witha longitudinal slot, through which the web is drawn; For the purposes of this application the device is attached to the end of a hinged armconnected with the base of the chair, andserves ordinarily as a foot-rest. The support for the leg is made by drawing out the web and connecting it with the seat behind by means of eyes b, passing over the pivots a a. If found desirable, this roller may be attached to the seat and the web drawn in the opposite direction and fastened to the foot-rest or other part 'of the seat in front, or the floor, as the case may be. f

It will be seen by reference to Fig.'2 that the webbing I has anv eye or hook, b, on one IOO end, which is slipped on the pivot a, and that the spring-aetuated roller II is applied to a reversible arm pivoted to the foot-rest J.

I am aware that a pivotal seat and certain styles of pivotal back used separately are not new. I ani not aware, however, that they have ever before been used in Combination for the purpose of making a selfadjusting ehair7 and it is only in this way and for this purpose that I elaim this arrangement as my invention.

Having thus deseribed my invention,wl1at I Claim as my own, and desire to secure by Letters Patent7 is- 1. The combination7 in a reclining-chair, of a pivoted seat and an independently-pivoted baelgwith a connecting-webbing, pivoted arms F, having rack-teeth7 the stand ard E, adapted to engage with said teeth, and a spring-frame, D, and the supporting-base therefor7 all constructed substantially as described.

2. In a chair7 the combination of the ilexible web I,-seeured at one end to the seat-pivot a, and the other end to a winding-up springroller, and the pivoted arm II', and a supporting-base7 substantially as described.

8. In a reclining-chair, the combination of the main frame, the centrally-pivoted back, the eentrally-pivoted seat, and the iiexible webbing connecting them7 said webbing being seeured to the lower part of the back, and extending aeross to the seat-frame, substantially as shown and described, whereby a continuous supporting-surface is formed between them7 and they are made to fit the form of the oeeupant, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GARLAND B. ST. JOHN.

vVitiiesses:

J. M. ST. JOHN, S. M. ENDICOTT. 

